Apple

Apple.com promoting new version of Asphalt 8: Airborne coming, but why?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Apple rarely, if ever at all, advertises other people's software on its front page, so imagine our surprise after noticing a line at the bottom of Apple.com saying that a "new version of Asphalt 8: Airborne is coming to the App Store this summer". Yup, just like that.

The message seems to have first appeared on the Apple homepage nearly a month ago on Sunday, April 27, 2014.

I know what you must be thinking, but no - this game has not been featured in Apple's iPhone 5s 'Powerful' television commercial in the United States - though you could be partially right because localized versions of the ad that Apple is airing in other countries do feature Asphalt 8...

Spotify announces it now has 10 million paying subscribers, 40 million active users

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

Spotify has announced that it's surpassed two new major milestones in recent weeks. The streaming service says that it now has more than 10 million paying subscribers and over 40 million active users, in 56 markets around the globe.

For context, Pandora said last month that its active user count for March was 75.3 million. It didn't say how many of those were paid accounts, but looking at its numbers from last year (2.5 million) Spotify may be close to passing it...

Apple said to be expanding in Sunnyvale, California with new 7-building campus

Cody Lee ∙ May 21, 2014

The San Jose Mercury News is reporting today that Apple plans to expand its operations into Sunnyvale, California. Citing city documents and sources familiar with the matter, the outlet says that the iPad-maker has agreed to lease a new campus in the Santa Clara city.

According to building permit applications, the agreement includes Sunnyvale Crossing, a 290,000 square foot complex with a total of 7 buildings. Apple is currently listed as a tenant in one of the facilities, and is expected to take over the remaining 6 structures very soon...

Apple posts Safari 7.0.4/6.1.4 with fixes for WebKit vulnerabilities

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

Following the release of OS X 10.9.3, iTunes 11.2 and the subsequent iTunes 11.2.1 update (which fixed the disappearing Users folder in OS X 10.9.3), Apple on Wednesday issued a pair of Safari updates for OS X Lion, Mountain Lion and Mavericks systems.

Both Safari 7.0.4 for OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 and Safari 6.1.4 for OS X Lion 10.7.5, OS X Lion Server 10.7.5 and OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.5 are now available with fixes for vulnerabilities found in WebKit, the browser's open-sourced rendering engine...

Apple can now market, sell and develop products in Saudi Arabia

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 21, 2014

Although the Saudi Arabia Online Apple Store has been up and running for years now, you can't really add products to the shopping basket because Apple isn't licensed to sell its products directly to consumers in the 28.3 million people market.

Instead, the iPhone maker relies on a network of third-party resellers to market and sell products in the country, a common practice in all regions where Apple hasn't yet established its direct presence.

This is about to change as the firm has apparently been cleared to market, sell and develop products directly to Saudi Arabian customers through its subsidiary name of 'Apple, Saudi Arabia'...

Apple pulls popular ‘Weed Firm’ game from the App Store

Cody Lee ∙ May 21, 2014

Apple has pulled the popular, and somewhat controversial, game 'Weed Firm' from the App Store this week. The game landed on iOS just a few weeks ago, and had climbed its way to the top of the App Store's 'Top Free' list in several countries.

For those unfamiliar with the game, the game centers around a marijuana business, started by an expelled botany student who inherits a growing operation and expands it. Players control all aspects of the business, including selling cannabis...

Apple updates WWDC app with 2014 conference schedule, confirms June 2 keynote

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 21, 2014

Apple's free WWDC app for iOS has been updated with relevant 2014 conference schedule and related content ahead of its upcoming developer-only event.

The 5-day Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off with a keynote on June 2 and will give us previews of iOS 8 code-named Okemo and OS X 10.10, code-named Syrah after a wine.

Version 2.0 of the WWDC app for the iPhone and iPad includes a brand new icon, a revamped design with an aesthetically pleasing orange theme and, more importantly, content support for the upcoming event. If you're not attending WWDC, the app is a nice way to follow the announcements as they happen, watch session videos uploaded throughout the week, browse floor plans and more...

Day One for Mac updated with search and tag refinements, more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2018

My favorite journaling app for iOS and OS X, Day One, has received a nice update today on the Mac side, bringing a couple improvements to the already well-rounded experience, along with a host of bug fixes.

The 2012 Mac App of the Year, Day One version 1.9.4 will now show your most recent entry location in the Map view by default. Your tags are now included in Momento text entry imports and there's a "greatly improved search" for multi-byte characters, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Emoji and so forth.

This update is of course free for existing users. Day One for OS X is $9.99 in the Mac App Store...

Google could serve ads to your Nest in the future

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 21, 2014

Google has hinted in a filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that it's envisioning the future in which ads could be served to a dizzying range of devices such as thermostats, refrigerators, cars and more.

Based on a letter Google sent to the SEC in December, which was disclosed Tuesday and picked up by the Wall Street Journal, its advertising content could in the not-so-distant future appear on “refrigerators, car dashboards, thermostats, glasses, and watches, to name just a few possibilities.”

Google shocked watchers after announcing its $3.2 billion acquisition of smart thermostat maker Nest Labs back in January. Immediately, watchers expressed concern over the repercussions of the buy. Nest co-founder Tony Fadell responded by assuring customers in a blog post that Nest won’t share their data with Google...

Google Maps gains faster Street View transitions

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 21, 2014

Google last night issued a minor but welcomed update to its free Google Maps for iOS app. In addition to some bug fixes, version 3.1 now offers "smoother, faster transitions when you move through Street View."

The latest update arrives two weeks after the Internet giant issued a major 3.0 update, bringing the much-needed offline mode to Google Maps in addition to lane guidance, Uber integration, Voice Search, pins and more...

Italian watchdog to Apple: respond to In-App Purchase allegations or else…

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

Italy's Antitrust and Competition Authority is probing Apple, Google, Amazon and Gameloft over accusations that these companies are intentionally misleading consumers who download freemium smartphone and tablets apps without realizing In-App Purchases are needed to unlock more features.

According to a new report, Italian investigators have asked Apple and others to submit their defense within the next twenty days or face a fine of up to €5 million each (about $6.84 million), although the punishment would be proportional to each company's size...

Google surpasses Apple as world’s most valuable brand in latest study

Cody Lee ∙ May 21, 2014

It seems like every couple of weeks, a new study comes out telling us who the most valuable brand in the world is based on various metrics. The winner changes from time to time, but I'd guess more times than not in recent years, it's been Apple.

That's not that case, however in the latest study. Marketing research firm Millward Brown is out with its annual BrandZ study this morning, and after sitting at the top for 3 years in a row, the iPad-maker has been usurped by Google for the #1 spot...